Hamble Winter Series 2024 Race Week 8, sponsored by Greene King
by Trevor Pountain 4 Dec 2024 08:56 PST
30-1 December 2024
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At last, some normal winter series weather came to the Solent, for the final Race Week of the 2024 Hamble Winter Series, sponsored by Greene King.
"Miserable weather to finish," was the view of Lis Robinson on Hot Rats. Provisioning on the First 35 was fortunately up to its usual standard with coffee and Millionaire's Shortcake on the way out. Other shortcake brands are available. There was also a rush of volunteers for the 'downstairs' navigator's job. "What a gorgeous sunny day, who ever said winter series sailing could be grim!" commented a very tongue-in-cheek Mike Yates on JAGO. At least there were going to be two exciting races to regale about in the HRSC bar.
The Race Team led by PRO Peter Bateson and ARO Kathryn Clark made their soggy way to the CV Bumblebee, Simon and Pauline Week's Dufour 385, not forgetting to collect the Bacon Butties from the Beach Hut Café on the way. They set up shop at 4Q, John Fisher, to expedite the now familiar catch-up plan of a short windward/leeward followed by a longer round the cans race.
There was no doubt this week that the wind would hold up, but would your end of season waterproofs be up to the job? Rear Commodore Sailing, Rupert Wolloshin, on the mark laying boat Obsession, found to his dismay that an investment in new 'oilies' was required before next season.
The short, some would say very short, windward/leeward for Race 1, in 20 - 25 knots, livened things up a bit. The racecourse was busy but, said Mike Yates, "The good spreader leg kept everyone apart. Thank you." There were of course a number of unforced errors in these challenging conditions and Elysium IV, the Sunfast 3600 of Max Walker had to white sail leg 2.
In the IRC 3 start, Banter, Mustang 30, Ian Handley and Tim James, managed to "Shut that door!" on the fast charging and higher rating Memory Maker. Thankfully for all concerned, including the startled Race Team, Don Forster bailed out just in time. "A perfect 'Larry Grayson' start," said Ian Handley, though I'm not sure what it would be called if Memory Maker had not managed the bail out!
The conditions were perfect for With Alacrity in IRC 2. Chris and Vanessa Choules Sigma 38 even came out on top in the short first race, beating JAGO by six seconds corrected. Third place went to Further West, the J99 of Alain Waha, with Gavin Doyles Channel 32, Wavetrain in fourth. In IRC 3, Banter's good start meant they kept in touch with Protis, Team Hamble, but could not quite find the right gear to get past them. Polly the Impala 28 of Ben Meakins was third with Dark Horse, Rob Macgregor's Mustang 30, in fourth. In IRC 1, Ross Bowdler brought his Open 7.50, Cool Runnings, out to play again. Cool Runnings won Race 1 by some ten minutes from the Prima 38, Talisman of Simon Harwood.
Race 2, in 20 plus knots gave everyone plenty to think about. The Race Comms "Went a little Dalek" for this race. This was the result of the RO apparently "In the warm down below." Well, you would, wouldn't you?
There were one or two impressive broaches during the race, but luckily for the competitors, our, by now, very wet photographer, Paul Wyeth, was too far away to capture the moments. Shame!
Cool Runnings was beginning to enjoy herself, at least off the wind. Check out their reel on Instagram if you don't believe me.
Ross and the crew brought Cool Runnings home some 17 minutes ahead of Talisman on the water in IRC 1. With Alacrity took the bullet in IRC 2 from JAGO again, but this time by eighteen seconds. Further West was again third. In IRC 3, even the class leaders were having trouble with the coloured stuff at the front of the mast. Banter, with Ian blaming some heroic guest crew and the Asian flu, had some particularly disappointing spinnaker work and ended up in fifth place. I'm sure that Bernard Manning would have an appropriate catch phrase for that Ian!
Despite also testing the righting moment of their little yacht, those "old Pros" on Protis, held it together to claim second place. The very steady Dark Horse had a very good first in the difficult conditions. Polly once again came third.
Back in the HRSC Clubhouse there was a mega prize-giving. First the day prizes from Greene King, then the delayed IRC Championship and One Design Championship prize-givings and finally the Hamble winter series prizes. Protis, Team Hamble, was once again Yacht of the Series and JAGO, Mike and Susie Yates took home the Paul Heys Trophy for the best performing J-boat.
Full results can be found at: www.hamblewinterseries.com
Next year, everything will kick off again on the weekend of the 4th and 5th October 2025.